Shooting sticks

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides shooting sticks for supporting a firearm. The shooting sticks include a first leg and a second leg. Each leg includes a first top arm secured to a first bottom arm. The shooting sticks additionally include a first rear arm and a second rear arm. The first rear arm is secured to the first leg by a first pivot arm and the second rear arm is secured to the second leg by a second pivot arm. A first securing means secures the first leg to the second leg, a second securing means secures the first rear arm to the second rear arm, and a third securing means secures the first and second leg to the first and second rear arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to shooting sticks, also known as a gun rest. The present invention specifically relates to bipod or tripod shooting sticks, bipod shooting sticks having two points of contact with the ground or the surface from which the user is shooting and tripod shooting sticks having three points of contact. Where there are three points of contact, the third point of contact may or may not be in contact with the ground when the gun is being used for shooting. The present invention more specifically relates to bipod or tripod shooting sticks that provide two points of contact with the user's rifle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gun users frequently wait for long periods of time before their target appears and the appearance of the target can often be only for a short period of time. When precision shooting is needed, the shooter needs to be shooting from a comfortable position.

Previously, numerous gun rests have been invented and introduced to the market, including unipods, bipods, and tripods. However, most of these prior art gun rests only provide one point of contact with the rifle, which provides limited stability and increased odds of producing an inaccurate shot.

There have also been gun rests invented and introduced to the market that provide two points of contact with the rifle. However, most gun rests that provide two points of contact must utilize flat or rounded bottom surfaces which are difficult to plant in hilly terrain. Furthermore, most gun rests that provide two points of contact must utilize flat-topped rests (also known as “flat rests,” which is a term of art within the industry) where the rifle is supported. These flat-topped rests sometimes cause the rifle to come out of said flat rests during recoil of the rifle. Additionally, most gun rests that provide two points of contact have to be repositioned to move the point of impact in a material way as the flat-topped rests offer a limited range of motion before the rifle comes off the rests and is unsupported. Finally, some gun rests that provide two points of contact have back legs that extend all the way down to the bottom of the front legs which provides for a non-flexible gun rest.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a gun rest that is easy to plant in all terrain types, that provides two points of contact with the rifle with the use of a front rest, that cradles the fore end of the rifle more securely for the following of moving game and/or to shoot follow-up shots without repositioning, and that is more flexible by providing additional degrees of rotational freedom as compared to conventional flat top gun rests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks for supporting a firearm, the shooting sticks include: a first leg and a second leg, wherein said first leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a first top arm secured to a first bottom arm and wherein said second leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a second top arm secured to a second bottom arm; a first rear arm and a second rear arm, wherein said first rear arm has a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion is secured to said first leg by a first pivot arm and wherein said second rear arm has a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion is secured to said second leg by a second pivot arm; a first securing means securing said top portion of said first leg to said top portion of said second leg; a second securing means securing said top portion of said first rear arm to said top portion of said second rear arm; and a third securing means securing said first and second leg to said first and second rear arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, further comprising a cradle piece slidably positioned over the top portions of said first and second leg.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, further comprising caps positioned over the top portions of said first and second rear arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, further comprising a third leg, wherein said third leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a third top arm secured to a third bottom arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said top portion of said third leg is secured to said top portion of said first leg and said top portion of said second leg by said first securing means and wherein said third securing means secures said first, second, and third leg to said first and second rear arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said bottom portions of said first, second, and third legs include sharpened end points.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said first, second, and third top arms include a male connector end, wherein said first, second, and third bottom arms include a female connector end, wherein said male connector end of said first top arm screws into said female connector end of said first bottom arm, wherein said male connector end of said second top arm screws into said female connector end of said second bottom arm, and wherein said male connector end of said third top arm screws into said female connector end of said third bottom arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said first rear arm includes a ball secured proximate the bottom portion of said first rear arm and wherein said second rearm arm includes a ball secured proximate the bottom portion of said second rear arm.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said first pivot arm includes a first arm portion secured around said first leg and a second arm portion providing a first socket, wherein said second pivot arm includes a first arm portion secured around said second leg and a second arm portion providing a second socket, wherein said ball of said first rear arm is placed within said first socket to secure the bottom portion of said first rear arm to said first leg, and wherein said ball of said second rear arm is placed within said second socket to secure the bottom portion of said second rear arm to said second leg.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said first rear arm is secured to said first leg at a position at least about 35% of a length of said first leg and wherein said second rear arm is secured to said second leg at a position at least about 35% of a length of said second leg.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides shooting sticks as in any embodiment above, wherein said first rear arm is secured to said first leg at a position at most about 75% of a length of said first leg and wherein said second rear arm is secured to said second leg at a position at most about 75% of a length of said second leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a complete understanding of the various aspects, structures, and operation of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the shooting sticks of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the shooting sticks of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the shooting sticks of FIG. 1 showing a rifle positioned on the shooting sticks;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a top front arm of the shooting sticks of the present invention prior to it being secured in place with a lower arm of the shooting sticks of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pivot arm of the shooting sticks of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the top portions of the top rear arms of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the shooting sticks of FIG. 1 in a folded-up position with the lower arms not secured to the top front arms; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the top cradle piece of the shooting sticks of the present invention slidably positioned over the top portions of the top front arms of the shooting sticks of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

A representative embodiment of the shooting sticks of the present invention, is denoted in the drawings generally by the numeral 10. As shown in FIG. 1, shooting sticks 10 include top rear arms 12 a and 12 b, top front arms 14 a and 14 b, two pivot arms 16 a and 16 b, and two lower arms 18 a and 18 b. In other embodiments of the present invention, such as shown in FIG. 2, shooting sticks 10 additionally include a third top front arm 14 c and a third lower arm 18 c. In one or more embodiments, the top rear arms 12 are made from hickory. In one or more embodiments, the top front arms 14 are made from hickory. In one or more embodiments, the lower arms 18 are made from hickory.

As additionally shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the top portions 20 of the top rear arms 12 are covered with caps 22 that provide a padded area for the rear end of a rifle to sit when a user is utilizing the shooting sticks 10 of the present invention. In one or more embodiments, the caps 22 are made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic or rubber. Specifically, when the shooting sticks 10 are being utilized by a user, the top portions 20 of the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b will cross to form a V shaped support rest 26 that is designed to go behind the pistol grip of the rifle.

As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower arms 18 include a sharpened end portion 19 at the bottom portion of the lower arms 18. These sharpened end portions 19 allow for the shooting sticks 10 to stay firmly in place along any surface imaginable. However, it is to be noted that the sharpened end portion 19 of optional arm 18 c will likely only be in contact with the ground surface to hold the shooting sticks 10 upright while a rifle or gun is positioned on the shooting sticks 10. The optional arm 18 c will likely be removed from contact with the ground surface when the rifle or gun is being aimed and shot.

Furthermore, a top cradle piece 28 is slidably positioned over the top portions 30 of the top front arms 14 a and 14 b. A front end of a rife is carried in the top cradle piece 28 when a user is utilizing the shooting sticks 10 of the present invention. The top cradle piece 28 does not lock the front end of a rifle in place, so that by shifting where the front end of a rifle is sitting within the top cradle piece 28, a user can move the point of impact approximately 25 to 50 yards to be able to follow moving game. To help visual the position of a rifle with the shooting sticks 10 of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows the shooting sticks 10 as shown in FIG. 1 with a rifle R placed in position on the shooting sticks 10. In one or more embodiments, the top cradle piece 28 is made from a material selected from the group consisting of leather, suede, and cotton.

The top front arms 14, such as top front arm 14 a as shown in FIG. 4, contain a male connector end 32, and the lower arms 18, such as lower arm 18 a as shown in FIG. 4, contain a female connector end 34. The male connector end 32 of the top front arm 14 screw into the female connector end 34 of the lower arm 18 in order to secure the top front arm 14 to the lower arm 18. When the top front arms 14 a and 14 b (and optionally 14 c) are secured to the lower arms 18 a and 18 b (and optionally 18 c), legs 13 a and 13 b (and optionally leg 13 c) is formed.

The pivot arms 16, such as pivot arm 16 a as shown in FIG. 5, are utilized to secure a top rear arm 12 to a top front arm 14. As shown in FIG. 2, if a third top front arm 14 c and a third lower arm 18 c are present, there is no top rear arm 12 secured to the third top arm 14 c. Pivot arm 16 is located proximate a bottom portion 24 of a top front arm 14 right above the male connector end 32. Specifically, a first arm portion 36 of the pivot arm 16 is located on the top front arm 14 and a second arm portion 38 provides a socket 40 to interact with a ball 42 secured proximate an end 44 of the top rear arm 12.

Once the ball 42 of the top rear arm 12 is in place within the socket 40 of the pivot arm 16, screw 46 is tightened. The tightening of screw 46 constrains both the outer sleeve 48 and inner liner 50 of the pivot arm 16 to be secure in place around the top front arm 14 and to provide a secure connection between the ball 42 and socket 40 such that the ball 42 can move with socket 40 but cannot be removed therefrom. In one or more embodiments, outer sleeve 48 of the pivot arm 16 is made from a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. In one or more embodiments, inner liner 50 of the pivot arm 16 is made from Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. In order to provide additional security to the pivot arm 16, in one or more embodiments, an additional set screw 52 is placed within pivot arm 16 and sealed in place.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of the top portions 20 of the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b that cross to form the V shaped support rest 26. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b are secured together using securing means 54 that is wound through an aperture 56 located proximate the top portions 20 of top rear arms 12 a and 12 b. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 54 can be anything that secures the top of the rear arms 12 and 12 b together. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 54 is selected from the group consisting of leather chord, a plastic tie, or a steal cable. Once the securing means 54 is wound through each aperture 56, a knot is tied at the ends of the securing means 54. The use of securing means 54 wound through apertures 56 allows for some movement of the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b, which allows for shooting sticks 10 to be folded up when not in use, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of the top cradle piece 28 that is slidably positioned over the top portions 30 of the top front arms 14 a and 14 b. In a similar manner to the rear front arms 12 a and 12 b, the top front arms 14 a and 14 b are secured together using a securing means 58 that is wound through an aperture 60 located proximate the top portions 30 of the top front arms 14 a and 14 b. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 58 can be anything that secures the top front arms 14 a and 14 b. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 58 is selected from the group consisting of leather chord, a plastic tie, or a steal cable. Once securing means 58 is wound through each aperture 60, a knot is tied at the ends of the securing means 58. The use of securing means 58 wound through apertures 60 allows for some movement of the top front arms 14 a and 14 b, which allows for shooting sticks 10 to be folded up when not in use, as shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, when third top front arm 14 c is present, the top cradle piece 28 will not be slidably positioned over the top portion 30 of the third top front arm 14 c. Additionally, the third top front arm 14 c will also include an aperture 60 located proximate its top portion 30 and securing means 58 will be wound through the aperture 60 of top front arm 14 c to secure the three top front arms 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c together.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 8, top rear arms 12 a and 12 b and the top front arms 14 a and 14 b (and 14 c when present) are secured together through the use of securing means 62 having two looped ends 64 a and 64 b. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 62 can be anything that secures the combination of the first and second leg 13 a, 13 b together with the combination of the first and second rear arms 12 a, 12 b. In one or more embodiments, the securing means 62 is selected from the group consisting of leather chord, a plastic tie, or a steal cable Looped end 64 a goes around the top portions 20 of the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b, specifically, looped end 64 a will lie against the securing means 54 securing the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b together. Looped end 64 b goes around the top portions 30 of the top front arms 14 a and 14 b (and 14 c when present), specifically, looped end 64 b will lie against the securing means 58 securing the top front arms 14 a and 14 b (and 14 c when present) together. The placement of the securing means 62 between the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b and the top front arms 14 a and 14 b (and 14 c when present) will allow for a distance of between about 17.5 inches and 19.5 inches between the V shaped support rest 26 and the top cradle piece 28. When the shooting sticks 10 are in a folded-up position, as shown in FIG. 7, the securing means 62 will go slack until the shooting sticks 10 are unfolded again for use.

An important aspect of shooting sticks 10 are the position of the ends 44 of the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b along the legs 13 a and 13 b. Because the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b are secured to the legs 13 a and 13 b at about a midpoint of the legs 13 a and 13 b, shooting sticks 10 are more flexible and can provide additional degrees of rotational freedom as compared to traditional shooting sticks.

In one or more embodiments, the top rear arms 12 a and 12 b are secured to the legs 13 a and 13 b, respectively, at a position located at least about 35% of a length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, in other embodiments at a position located at least about 40% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, and in yet other embodiments at a position located at least about 50% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b wherein the length L is determined beginning at the bottom of the legs 13 a and 13 b. In one or more embodiments, the top rear arms 14 a and 14 b are secured to the legs 13 a and 13 b, respectively, at a position located at most about 75% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, in other embodiments at a position located at most about 65% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, and in yet other embodiments at a position located at most about 60% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b wherein the length L is determined beginning at the bottom of the legs 13 a and 13 b. In one or more embodiments, the top rear arms 14 a and 14 b are secured to the legs 13 a and 13 b, respectively, at a position located between about 35% and 75% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, in other embodiments at a position located between about 40% and 65% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b, and in yet other embodiments at a position located between about 50% and 60% of the length L of the legs 13 a and 13 b wherein the length L is determined beginning at the bottom of the legs 13 a and 13 b.

In order to use the shooting sticks 10 of the present invention, the lower arms 18 must be secured to the top front arms 14. To do this, the male connector ends 32 of the top front arms 14 must be secured into the female connector ends 34 of the lower arms 18. When this is done, the legs 13 have been created. The next step is to spread out the legs 13 so that the sharpened end portions 19 of the lower arms 18 are about three to four feet apart from each other. This will situate the shooting sticks 10 at the proper height. Next, the top rear arms 12 are pulled away from the top front arms 14 towards the user. The top rear arms 12 are designed to stay where they are placed, so this pulling action will require the use of a few pounds of force. Once the top rear arms 12 are placed where the user desires, the rear part of the stock of a rifle just behind the pistol grip, such as rifle R as shown in FIG. 3, is placed within the V shaped support rest 26.

If a user wants to move their point of impact down, they can step forward into the shooting sticks 10 and change the relative positioning of the V-shaped support rest 26 and the top cradle piece 28 from being perpendicular with the surface the sharpened end portions 19 are placed on, to angle the relative positioning of the V-shaped support rest 26 and the top cradle piece 28 to be slightly forward. In one or more embodiments, the shooting sticks 10 can be angled downward by as much as 10 degrees.

If a user wants to move their point of impact up, they can step back from the shooting sticks 10 and change the relative positioning of the V-shaped support rest 26 and the top cradle piece 28 from being perpendicular with the surface the sharpened end portions 19 are placed on, to angle the relative positioning of the V-shaped support rest 26 and the top cradle piece 28 to be slightly back. In one or more embodiments, the shooting sticks 10 can be angled back by as much as 10 degrees.

If a user wants to move their point of impact to the left or right, the top cradle piece 28, because it is non-rigid, will easily allow for such movement. In one or more embodiments, the shooting sticks 10 can be moved either left or right while resting within the top cradle piece 28 by as much as 10 degrees.

In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention significantly advances the art by providing shooting sticks that are structurally and functionally improved in a number of ways. While particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby inasmuch as variations on the invention herein will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention shall be appreciated from the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Shooting sticks for supporting a firearm, the shooting sticks comprising: a. a first leg and a second leg, wherein said first leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a first top arm secured to a first bottom arm and wherein said second leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a second top arm secured to a second bottom arm; b. a first rear arm and a second rear arm, wherein said first rear arm has a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion is secured to said first leg by a first pivot arm and wherein said second rear arm has a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion is secured to said second leg by a second pivot arm; c. a first securing means securing said top portion of said first leg to said top portion of said second leg; d. a second securing means securing said top portion of said first rear arm to said top portion of said second rear arm; and e. a third securing means securing said first and second leg to said first and second rear arm.
 2. The shooting sticks of claim 1, further comprising a cradle piece slidably positioned over the top portions of said first and second leg.
 3. The shooting sticks of claim 2, further comprising caps positioned over the top portions of said first and second rear arm.
 4. The shooting sticks of claim 3, further comprising a third leg, wherein said third leg has a top portion and a bottom portion and comprises a third top arm secured to a third bottom arm.
 5. The shooting sticks of claim 4, wherein said top portion of said third leg is secured to said top portion of said first leg and said top portion of said second leg by said first securing means and wherein said third securing means secures said first, second, and third leg to said first and second rear arm.
 6. The shooting sticks of claim 4, wherein said bottom portions of said first, second, and third legs include sharpened end points.
 7. The shooting sticks of claim 4, wherein said first, second, and third top arms include a male connector end, wherein said first, second, and third bottom arms include a female connector end, wherein said male connector end of said first top arm screws into said female connector end of said first bottom arm, wherein said male connector end of said second top arm screws into said female connector end of said second bottom arm, and wherein said male connector end of said third top arm screws into said female connector end of said third bottom arm.
 8. The shooting sticks of claim 1, wherein said first rear arm includes a ball secured proximate the bottom portion of said first rear arm and wherein said second rear arm includes a ball secured proximate the bottom portion of said second rear arm.
 9. The shooting sticks of claim 8, wherein said first pivot arm includes a first arm portion secured around said first leg and a second arm portion providing a first socket, wherein said second pivot arm includes a first arm portion secured around said second leg and a second arm portion providing a second socket, wherein said ball of said first rear arm is placed within said first socket to secure the bottom portion of said first rear arm to said first leg, and wherein said ball of said second rear arm is placed within said second socket to secure the bottom portion of said second rear arm to said second leg.
 10. The shooting sticks of claim 9, wherein said first rear arm is secured to said first leg at a position at least about 35% of a length of said first leg and wherein said second rear arm is secured to said second leg at a position at least about 35% of a length of said second leg.
 11. The shooting sticks of claim 9, wherein said first rear arm is secured to said first leg at a position at most about 75% of a length of said first leg and wherein said second rear arm is secured to said second leg at a position at most about 75% of a length of said second leg. 